Page:UK Traffic Signs Manual - Chapter 3 Regulatory Signs. 2008 (Second Impression 2008).pdf/62

ON–STREET PARKING AND LOADING P 661.3A). Outside these times any vehicle may park in the bay without payment unless signs and markings indicate otherwise (e.g. a prohibition of waiting). A time limit on the duration of parking may also be shown on the signs in a similar manner to diagram 661.1. Where the period during which a vehicle may not return is not specified, the limited parking period is expressed as "Max stay 2 hours" where the time shown represents the maximum period for which a ticket may be purchased.

A parking place identifier, similar to a permit identifier (see paras 7.12 and 7.13), may be added to all pay and display signs, including the sign to diagram 661.4. This may be necessary where two pay and display schemes operate in adjacent roads and a ticket purchased from a machine in one road is not valid for parking in the other. To avoid driver confusion, it is recommended that wherever possible two or more different schemes (such as long stay and short stay parking) should not be introduced in the same road. However, where it is necessary to provide adjacent bays that belong to two different schemes, two separate signs to diagram 661.2A should be erected side by side on the boundary. Each sign should have its own parking place identifier with an arrow pointing towards the appropriate ticket machine. There should also be separate bay markings for each scheme, set apart by a distance of at least 100 mm. When a pay and display parking bay is adjacent to a different type of bay such as a permit holders only bay, care should be taken in siting signs so that drivers are not misled into purchasing a ticket and parking in the wrong bay. Ticket machines also need to be sited carefully, for the same reason.

Voucher parking involves the purchase of a voucher from a suitable local outlet, e.g. a nearby shop. It has the advantage that money is not kept in machines on site, there is reduced capital cost and less on–street clutter. The disadvantage is that vouchers are available only when the shops are open, which might reduce the times of operation of a scheme. Voucher parking is often more convenient for local people than for those making the occasional journey into a town. This tends to gives priority for on–street parking to local people, encouraging others to use off–street car parks where available. 60